Second Female Leads' Playbook

After a while, I realized the hold on me had disappeared. Had those mortals left? Or had the mortals kill the annoying warden who had watched over me for three thousand years? No, it couldn't be. I highly doubted that. With that thought in mind, I swam back to the surface. To find the three mortals standing there. So was the annoying god. 

I sighed in relief. Wait, why was I sighing? Must be because the mortals didn't kill him. If even mortals could kill him, what would I look like? Someone even more useless than mortals? 

The mortals and the annoying god of order seemed to be... bartering? I hid myself behind a stone and peeked at them. 

"We found this, so it's ours!" shouted one mortal, his face red with anger. 

"I understand," the god replied with his cold, logical voice. "You broke the ward." 

"So?" the mortal, who was the leader of the group, said rudely. 

I was exasperated, I just did not understand mortals anymore. Didn't they worship their gods? Or had the position of gods decline so much throughout the years? See how isolated I was. Three thousand years of imprisonment did that to people!

"You broke my ward, in exchange I request the tool you're holding as compensation." 

"What? Your ward is stopping me from exploring, so I break it. My compass told me there's great treasure here. Give it to me then you can still leave without a scratch." 

Had that mortal been dropped on the floor when he was born? I rolled my eyes. The god of order must have taken on a disguise, otherwise why would such fascinating exchange take place?

"So you refuse to give me the tool as compensation." 

"Are you kidding me? Do you know who I am?"

An idiot. So it's an idiot hammering on the ward for a month in a row. So it's this idiot waking me up at nine in the morning for a month. I flicked my tail in anger. And I thought it'll be an interesting high priest of some god at least, that's why I bore with the irritating sound of someone trying to break the ward. 

"What's over there?" the idiot shouted as he saw my tail.

With a push with my hands on the stone in front of me, I sat on the border of the lake, my tail flicking the lake water. I brushed my curls with my fingers. I then glanced at the idiot with the edge of my eyes.

"A mermaid! It's a mermaid! Go and catch her!" ordered the idiot. 

I flicked my tail. With a shy smile, I offered the idiot my hand and glanced him in his eyes. After a few seconds, as if seduced, he slowly walked towards me. After placing his hand in mine, I snaked my other hand around his other hand, the one holding the tool made by us beasts. I took the tool out of his hand and threw it into the lake. And then I slowly snaked my hands up his hands, until they were holding his shoulder. 

"Now you can die," I said with my hoarse croak voice. He widened his eyes as if he just realized I was a monster, but it's too late. I licked my lips with my tongue. I looked him in the eyes and was about to draw him into a nightmare where he would wither and die all the while fueling me with his fear. That's when my eyes were covered by a cool hand. 

"There's no treasure in this place," he said in his normal tone as he firmly removed my hands on the mortal's shoulders with his other hand. He held me firmly in his arms with my eyes covered as if he was cradling me. "I suggest you to leave." 

I tried to struggle out from his hold, but in vain. "Aren't you angry? He invaded your home! Let's kill him!" 

"This isn't my home." 

"Oh right, who would imprison someone in their home? You're not a psychopath." That's right, this was not his home even though he had spent every day of three thousand years here, I reminded myself solemnly, just my prison. "He invaded your stronghold of a prison, don't you want to kill him?" I asked sweetly.

"No, he does not deserve to be killed," said the god of order. "If you use your power to kill an innocent mortal, I'll have to take away your remaining power." 

"Oh, what a nice bargain! I'll kill him now, please let go of me." I smiled evilly as I placed my hand over his hand that was covering my eyes. 

I heard a small sigh next to my ear. He stood up while carrying me and then he suddenly let go of his hands. I was dropped into the lake with a huge plunk as water splashed out. 

"Go calm yourself in the cold water, Lorelei." With that he sealed my voice, I flipped my tails in anger and frustration.

He walked towards where the frightened mortals were standing. 

"I'll answer one wish of yours in return of your memories," he said without any emotion. 

"There's a mermaid in here, no way will I agree to let you take away my memory!" cried the leader of the group. "Do you know what kind of news that is? I found a mermaid! I'll be the talk of the capital!" 

"I'll answer one wish of yours in return of your memories," he repeated without any emotion. 

Good luck trying to barter with the stubborn god of order, I thought as I swam down to try to find the tool I took from that mortal. 

I wonder which tool was it? Was it the one that could break any spells? Or the one that could break any wards? It might not be the dagger that could kill a god, but there were still many useful tools made by Ruth, the blacksmith, my dear dead brother.